The Chocolate Debutante Read Online Free PDF Page B

me the waltz, he began to pant and his face turned red and he tried to kiss me.”
     
    Harriet sat down suddenly. Mr. Gerrard, the dancing master, had come with impeccable references.
     
    Susan gave a yawn and then smiled. “Well, he
is
forty if he is a day, so I said he had to go away because I did not like being pawed by old men.”
     
    “And he went?”
     
    “He burst into tears and ran away.”
     
    “I am sorry you have been subjected to such indignity. In the future when you have your dancing lessons, music lessons, or whatever, I will make sure one of my servants is always in the room. Perhaps you led him on, Susan. Your airs are a trifle too free and easy.”
     
    Susan swung her legs to the floor. “I thought it was only young men I had to be careful with.”
     
    “To put it as plainly and vulgarly as I can, you must be careful of anything in breeches from now on. Please go to your room and wash that chocolate off your face.”
     
    Susan tripped out. Harriet pulled the bell and told her butler to assemble all the servants. When they were all gathered, she told them that Miss Susan must never be left alone with any man, no matter what age, and she must never, ever be allowed to venture out on her own.
     
    Then, having dismissed them, Harriet went to her desk and began to look through an old address book. Her face brightened as it fell on the name Bertha Tulloch. She had known Bertha when both were in their late teens. Bertha had been cheerful and worldly-wise even then. She had married before her first Season, a certain viscount, now, what was his name…? Ah, Lord Dancer, that was it. She rang the bell and asked the butler to find out the direction of Lord Dancer and whether he was in town or not. After an hour, the butler returned with the intelligence that Lord Dancer resided in St. James’s Square. Harriet ordered her carriage and went to change her gown, looking at the neat rows of unfashionable garments and suddenly wishing she had something more modish.
     
    When she set out, she began to wish she had sent a footman around first with a note. Bertha might be much changed.
     
    But Lady Dancer was at home and Harriet was ushered up to the drawing room. The pair surveyed each other in silence for a moment and then Bertha ran forward, holding out both hands. “Harriet, you have not changed a bit!”
     
    “Nor you,” said Harriet, “although you’re vastly stylish.”
     
    “I am all the crack,” said Bertha complacently.
     
    She had changed, thought Harriet. She had grown slimmer, but her large eyes were as sparkling as ever and her brown hair under a lace cap just as thick and glossy.
     
    “Tell me how you go on,” urged Harriet. “Are you happy? Do you have children?”
     
    “I have two boys, twins, both in the country with their tutor. And you? Are you still Miss Tremayne? I heard you had become a rich recluse.”
     
    “I lead a quiet life,” said Harriet. “Or, rather, I
led
a quiet life. I should have called on you before and not waited until I needed your help.”
     
    “Tish! Of course I will help you.”
     
    “I have the onerous task of bringing out my niece, Susan Colville.”
     
    “And what is the problem? Little dowry? Face like a boot?”
     
    “Large dowry and face like an angel. Men turn to jelly at the very sight of her.”
     
    “La! What is the problem?”
     
    “Susan is lazy and does not like washing much. She is learning to read and write for the first time.”
     
    “You always did have frighteningly high standards, Harriet. Most of the cream of society are lazy and dirty and have minds totally untouched by learning.”
     
    “Come now, Bertha. The child must at least be fit to do household accounts.”
     
    “There, now. I can see you are worried.”
     
    “I am. The sad fact is that my friends are all equally spinsterish and bluestocking. I must enter the fashionable world. I need you to help me with clothes and jewels and